barely

adverb

bare·​ly ˈber-lē How to pronounce barely (audio)
Synonyms of barely
1
: in a meager manner : plainly
a barely furnished room
2
: scarcely, hardly
barely enough money for lunch

Synonyms of barely

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Examples of barely in a Sentence

We barely spoke the entire time we were in the car. There are barely any new features in this software. There is barely a difference between the two.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Holes riddle nearly every leaf, and some barely have any substance left. — Alora Bopray, USA Today, 6 July 2026 All the gold is gone, and there’s barely enough to pay her soldiers, let alone throw a lavish coronation. — Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 6 July 2026 Paris — As France braces for another heatwave, it’s barely recovered from the last one. — CNN Money, 7 July 2026 My father barely spoke of those dangers and difficulties, the way men of his generation often did. — Mahsa Alimardani, Time, 6 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for barely

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1513, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Time Traveler
The first known use of barely was circa 1513

Rhymes for barely

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Browse Nearby Words

bare-knuckle
barely
baren
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Cite this Entry

“Barely.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/barely. Accessed 10 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on barely

Nglish: Translation of barely for Spanish Speakers

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